Japan Press Weekly

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2021 April 21 - 27 [WORLD]

Newspaper workers/journalists demand immediate release of Japanese journalist detained in Myanmar

The Japan Federation of Newspaper Workers' Unions (Shimbun Roren) on April 20 published a statement protesting the unlawful detention of Japanese journalist Kitazumi Yuki by the Myanmar security forces and demanding his immediate release.

The statement points out that the Myanmar authorities’ act of detaining the Japanese journalist tramples on the freedom of the press which should be protected worldwide. Furthermore, the statement urges the Japanese government to rescue Kitazumi from unjust custody without delay and push the Myanmar military junta to stop the brutal suppression of protesters.

On the day, the Japan Congress of Journalists also released a statement demanding Kitazumi’s immediate release.

The JCJ statement referred to the fact that the Myanmar military unlawfully arrested many journalists including Kitazumi, and criticized this act for infringing on basic human rights, democracy, and media freedom. It calls on the Japanese government to take firm action to oppose violence and repression by the military and police forces in Myanmar.

Past related article:
> Japan PEN demands immediate release of Japanese journalist detained in Myanmar [April 20, 2021]